Have you ever been cruising down the carpool lane of the freeway when you found yourself suddenly "trapped like a rat," because you missed your exit? And there is no quick remedy, as you are pushed ever forward by the traffic behind you. And there—between you and the freedom of an exit—is the real "enemy," that big double yellow line that keeps you from where you need to go. Your world is over there, but you can't get to it!
But what if you had to experience restricted travel every day? Imagine if your highway was a mere two lanes, restricted not with just a yellow line, but with a wall designed to not only fence you in, but also to fence you out.
A road without exits
Steven Erlanger of the New York Times wire service recently wrote of just such a road ("West Bank Highway Creates Separation," The Riverside Press-Enterprise, Aug. 11, 2007).
Erlanger describes a road being built in the West Bank just east of Jerusalem. At first read, it might seem like a progressive breakthrough as both Israelis and Palestinians are allowed to travel on the same road, but let's take a closer look.
This four-lane thoroughfare offers two lanes for Israelis and two lanes for Palestinians that are separated by a tall concrete wall.
Seeing beyond its immediate purpose, Erlanger rightfully deciphers the design as making a statement not lost on the travelers of this road. It portrays a stark reminder of the permanent ugliness that swirls around this ribbon of concrete. The Israeli side of the road has many an exit into their neighborhoods, while the Palestinian side has few. This barrier between peoples to protect them from one another is not coming down any time soon, and there are reasons why.
Roads have impacted human history
Throughout history roads have impacted humanity. They can both connect and divide people. Historically, their purpose has been for the defense of an empire or nation. The Romans understood this from the time they laid the first stone on the Appian Way through southern Italy.
